Improvement in gas apparatus for melting snow and ice on sidewalks



J. FOLKMANN & F. KOLGEN.

Gas Apparatus for Meitihg Snow and lc 0n Sidewalks, Etc.

Patented May 28,1872.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB FOLKMANN AND FERDINAND KOLGEN, OF VIENNA, AUSTRO-HUN- GARIAN' EMPIRE.

IMPROVEMENT IN GAS APPARATUS FOR MELTING SNOW AND ICE 0N SIDEWALKS, &c.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 127,162, dated May 28, 1872.

places, court-yards, and other localities in towns by rapidly and efiectively destroying snow and ice.

The manipulation is very simple and cheap, the success complete and surprising. On the main conduit of gas, and at convenient distances, according to the situation and locality, we apply branch or service pipes, on which we screw hose of leather, India rubber, or any convenient elastic material. The connection of these hose, not higher than one foot above the level of the street, must be either close by the houses or in places where they do not hinder the communication. For cleanin g a length of three hundred feet and a breadth of one hundred and eighty feet we employ a hose of about one hundred and eighty feet, which is to be wound upon a small hose-cart, and the free under end of which bears a screwin order to be screwed upon the branch pipe. The upper end of the said hose bears a metal tube about three feet long and furnished with a valve. This metal tube serves as a handle to the workman for directing the jet of gas, as well as for augmenting and reducing the pressure of gas, and for instantly stopping the jet. A perforated cylinderforming the gas-burner is screwed across the mouth of the saidmetal tube.- The dimensions of the burner may vary between six inches and two feet. The performance begins in the center of each section, the length of which is about three hundred feet. The snow and ice covering the half breadth of the street are transformed to Water, which flows off easily into the gutters and sewers. For each section we employ a man for directing the jet of gas, another for the service of the hose-cart and hose, andtwo men with brooms for preventing any swell of Water and for clearing away other obstacles. One side of the street must be left free for the passage of carriages and walkers.

Arrived at the end of the section the workmanlreturns and causes the hot jet of gas to pass again over the sidewalk the remaining portion of water evaporates, and the sidewalk is dry. .When the same work has been done also in the opposite direction the hose is unscrewed, the opening of the branch pipe closed, and the above-described performance begins on the other side of the street. In the accompanying drawing we have show the gas-tube attached a a connection on the lamp-post, substantially in the manner hose is attached to water plugs.

An experienced workman can clean at least one thousand two hundred square feet in an hour, and consequently can destroy nine thousand six hundred square feet of compact snow from ten oclock in the evening to six in the morning. When this work begins at the same time at so many points as must be chosen for removing the snow and ice in one night the largest town can be delivered in eight hours after a snow-fall from this trouble, so prejudi cial to travel and to health.

Having now described the nature of our said invention and inwh'at manner the same is to be performed, we desire it to beunderstoodthat Y construction for producing the hot jet of gas.

What we claim, and desire to secure by Leters Patent, is-

1. The use of gas for the production of heat over surfaces covered with snow and ice, subin order to destroy snow and ice in the streets, stantially as described. places, court-yards, and other localities, sub- DR. JACOB FOLKMANN. stantia-lly as herein described. FERDINAND KOLGEN.

2. The arrangements and dispositions for Witnesses: conducting the gas from the main conduit in- LEOPOLD ZEGOUR, to the elastic hose and spreading the hot gas KARL BEOHZEDT. 

